Did Mälardalsleden solo last week. First trip in many (many) years. It was fantastic – all the challenges, pains, and thrills I was hoping for. I did it anti-clockwise in 3.5 days, joining the route just west of Stockholm. Total distance was about 450km with various wrong turns and off-shoots.
Warnings and tips for others:
1. The signs and map (Sweden by Bike) did not always match. The signs had a habit of drying up, especially when they had led me away from the mapped route. So be prepared to navigate yourself, stay vigilant, and double-check your direction before any significant descents or climbs.
2. Churches are a great place to stop and cook, as they most often have water taps in the graveyards, and signs are required if the water is NOT potable.
3. I was glad to be using a hammock. I believe I had a lot more choices of campsite (compared to if I’d been using a tent), as I didn’t need flat ground and Sweden has trees in spades.
mk081516 on
Wow, that looks amazing. Thx for the inspiration. Sick bike! ✌️
PapagenoRed on
Awesome! How good has your swedish has to be? (In other words: will I survive with english? The only dwdish word I know is flödhästen and I doubt that will be helpfull.
besto_feline on
How was it to sleep in the hammock thing?
habiat on
Nice Trip! Do you have and tips for wildcamping in Sweden? Last year i rode around the Vänern and found it quite difficult to find spots to pitch my tent outside of paid camp grounds.
5 Comments
Did Mälardalsleden solo last week. First trip in many (many) years. It was fantastic – all the challenges, pains, and thrills I was hoping for. I did it anti-clockwise in 3.5 days, joining the route just west of Stockholm. Total distance was about 450km with various wrong turns and off-shoots.
Warnings and tips for others:
1. The signs and map (Sweden by Bike) did not always match. The signs had a habit of drying up, especially when they had led me away from the mapped route. So be prepared to navigate yourself, stay vigilant, and double-check your direction before any significant descents or climbs.
2. Churches are a great place to stop and cook, as they most often have water taps in the graveyards, and signs are required if the water is NOT potable.
3. I was glad to be using a hammock. I believe I had a lot more choices of campsite (compared to if I’d been using a tent), as I didn’t need flat ground and Sweden has trees in spades.
Wow, that looks amazing. Thx for the inspiration. Sick bike! ✌️
Awesome! How good has your swedish has to be? (In other words: will I survive with english? The only dwdish word I know is flödhästen and I doubt that will be helpfull.
How was it to sleep in the hammock thing?
Nice Trip! Do you have and tips for wildcamping in Sweden? Last year i rode around the Vänern and found it quite difficult to find spots to pitch my tent outside of paid camp grounds.